Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



Dec. 22, 1953 Filled NOV. 19. 1949 LORENZ 2,663,358

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY 'OF A PERSON 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ANTON LORENZ BY ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 A. LORENZ 2,663,358

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY A PERSON Filed Nov. 19. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. ANTON LORENZ BYv ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 A, LORENZ 2,663,358

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY lOF A PERSON Filed Nov. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY y Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE 2,663,358 ARTICLE oF REPosE Fon SPPORTNG THE BODY OF A PERSON Anton Lorenz, BuialofN. ApplcationNoveinher 19, 1949.,.Se1'alNo. 128,285

(o1. 15a-10e) y 4'C1aims. 1

This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to reclining',r articles of furniture, wherein the seat and the back-rest may be moved through the medium of a link-system from a sitting position into a reclined position and vice versa.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reclining article of furniture of above described type wherein during' a displacement of the connected back-rest and seat iroin one posi tion into `another one the bach-rest and the seat .are moved through different angles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bed with a bed-bottom, the sections of which are adjustable relative to each other and may be readily brought from' one position into another one by a person resting on the bed.

A further object of the present invention is to improve on the art of reclining articles or furniture as now ordinarily' made.l

Other objects and structural details 'of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction'with the accompanying drawing forming rpart oi this 4speci- `:ocation wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a ide of the support 'being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a Side elevational viev.1 of chaise longue according to the invention, a portion oi a side of the supporting frame being brokenaway,

Fig. `3 is a side elevational View of a diferent embodiment o a chaise longue according to the invention, a portion of a side of the supporting trarne being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a bed according to the invention,

5 is a side elevational view of theL bed shown in Fig.- 4, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view oi the bed similar to that shown in Fig. 5 wherein, however, the sections of the articulated bed-bottom are in 'an 'angular position relative to each other.

Referring now to Fig. l, 2@ generally indicates a support comprising side frames 2E and 2e *rigu idly connected with each other by crossebars 26 and 28.

A back-supporting member or back-rest 39 is svvingably mounted Von thersupport 2o Yat 32. On each side of the chair said back-rest it has an extension 33 projecting beyond the pivotal connectionY 32 between the back-rest Bil and the suon port 2. lSaid extension 33 is rintegral with the back-rest 353.

The rear end portion of a i'ockable seat 3e is 2 swingably mounted on said support 2o at 3E. The pivotal connection between the seat 36 and the support 2i) is spaced from the pivotal connection 32 between the back-iest 35 and the support l2?.

An extension 33 rigidly connected with the seat Sflprojects baokwardly beyond the pivotal connection 35 between the seat 3ft and the support 2t and beyond the pivotal connection 32 between the back-rest 3E? and the support 2B. Said extension '38 passes through an aperture of the back-rest 3e.

On each side of the chair a connecting link it is pivotally connected with the extension 38 of the seat 3e at d2 and with the extension 33 of the back-rest 3Q at et.

On each `side 0f the chair an arm-rest de is rigidly connected with the back-rest As will be readily understood, the extension 33 of the back-rest 3e, the connecting link Il@ and the extension 35 of the seat :it constitute the movable links' of a four-sided link-system, while the portion 'of the support 2e between the pivots S2 and 35 constitutes the stationary link oi said four-sided link-system.

The cross-bar 23 between the side frames 22 and '2e of the support 28 acts as a stop for limiting the sitting position of the seat 3e and the movable members of the chair connected therewith, as shown in full lines in Fig. l. iti/hen the back-rest Si! is swung about its pivot 32 into the extreme reclined position shown in clash-and-dot lines in Fig. l., the Seat 34 connected with said back-rest 39 in the manner described above is swung about its pivot 3o into the reclined posi-- tion shown vin dashanddot lines. During such a displacement of the back-rest and seat from the sitting position into the reclined position, the angle between the seat and the back-rest is in creased. The extreme reclined position of the movable members oi the chair, as shown in dashand-dot lines, is limited by an abutment of the extension 33 of the back-rest Sil aaa-inst a stop 48 adjustably mounted in a slot E@ of the support 2e. The stop ll may lee held in its adjusted position by means of a screw (not shown).

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, again the back-rest itt and the seat E312 are pivoted to the supporting frame I2@ of the chaise longue at the points E32 and it spaced frei-n each other. The downward vextension |35 of the rack-rest 30., the rearward extension it of the seat 34 and the connecting link le@ are provided with a series of bores r52. rlhe pin mi2 may be selectively 'engaged with two bores of the series of bores 52 of the extension |38 and oi the connecting link Mil; the pin M4 may be selectively engaged with two bores of the series of bores l52 of the extension l33 and of the connecting link Mil. Thus the eiective length or" the extension i3d, of the connecting link Mil, and/or of the extension 33 may be readily adjusted.

` The leg-supporting member or leg-rest H54 arranged at an angle to the seat its is rigidly connected with the latter.

e. crosswbar i 55 connecting the side frames i22 and 2li of the support i2@ with each other is arranged in a gap between the rear end portion of the seat i 3d and the bacia-rest i.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chaise longue shown in full lines is limited by a cross-bar E28 arranged for abutting engagement with the seat i3d, the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash-anddot lines is limited by an abutment of the back-rest against a stop E45 carried by the support iii.

According to the embodiment of a chaise longue shown in Fig. 3, the back-rest 2312 is pivoted to the support at 232. The rear end portion of the seat 23d is pivoted yto the support 225 at at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 232 between the back-rest and the support. Again the rearward extension 23d of the seat 236i and the downward extension its of the back-rest 253i? are provided with a series o bores 252. The pivot M2 connecting the upper end of the connecting link 2li@ with the extension 235 of the seat 23d may be inserted into one or the other of the set of bores 252 of the extension 238. The pivot 255i connecting the lower end the connecting link 2d@ with the extension 233 of the back-rest 23d may be inserted into one or the other of the set of bores 252 of the extension 233.

The leg-rest t is swingably mounted on the front end portion of the seat 23d at 259. The movements of the leg-rest 251i are controlled by a controlling mechanism which in the embodinient shown in Fig. 3 is in the shape of a con trolling link Q52. One end of said controlling link 2%2 is pivoted to the leg-rest 25d at 25d, the

other end of said controlling link 252 is pivoted to the support 22) at 255.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chaise longue shown in full lines is limited by a crossmbar E23 o the support 22o arranged for abutting engagement with the seat 231i.

The arzn1ests ist of the chaise longue constitute an :integral portion oi the frame thereof of tubular material. The arm-rests idd are connested with each other by the portion 2&9 of the frame, which also constitutes a stop for abutting cooperation with the bacl rest 23d so as to limit the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chaise longue shown in dashr4 and-dot lines.

During the movement of the connected baciarest 236i and seat 23d from the sitting position into the reclined position, the leg-rest is brought into the dash-and-dot line position through the medium or the controlling link 252.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. lit-5 the support @2t oi the bed comprises the head-end 2te, the foot-end il@ and the pair of longitudinal rails 3M. Said parts of the support 32@ are rigidly connected with each other in any suitable manner.

The bach-supporting member or head-section 330 of the bed-bottoni is swingably mounted at 332 on lugs 31d carried by the longitudinal rails 312 of the support 32B. On each side of the bed an extension 333 is rigidly connected with the head-section 330.

The end of the rockable seat-portion 33s of the bed-bottom adjacent to said head-section 330 is swingably mounted on the lugs tid carried by the longitudinal rails 372 at ttt at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 332 between said head-section 33t and said lugs Sie. On each side of the bed an extension 33s is rigidly connected with said seat-portion 33d. Said extension 338 projects beyond the pivotal connection 335 between the rocltable seat-portion 33d and the support 32d and beyond the pivotal conneetion 332 between the head-section 535i and the support 320. Said extension 338 is provided with a series of bores 352.

On each side of the bed one end of a connecting link Sil@ of telescopic construction is pivoted to the extension 3&3 of the head-section 33d at 3MB. The pivot 3M may be disengageable, if so desired. A pin 362 may be selectively engaged with one bore 0f the series of bores 352 of the extension 338 of the seat-portion 3353. If the set screw 35H of the telescopic connecting link Edil is loosened or if either the pivot 3&2 or the pivot 34d is disengaged, the head-section its and the rockable seat-portion 33d may be broug t into alignment with each other as shown in Figs. fi and 5. Then the head-section 53@ rests on the lugs carried by the longitudinal rails 3'i2 or the support 32d and the seat-portion 33d rests on the lugs dit likewise carried by the longitudinal rails tir of the support 52d.

The leg-supporting member or foot-section 35e of the articulated bed-bottom is pivotally connected with the rockable seat-portion 334 at 355. On each side of the bed said foot-section is provided with a lug 376 carrying a pin 35d slidably and rotatably engaged with a longitudinal slot 365| arranged at one end of a controlling link 352. The other end of each conm trolling link 352 is pivotally connected with the lug 373 of the support 32@ at 355. Furthermore, on each side of the bed the foot-section 35e is provided at its free end with a lug 3&8 carrying a roller 3%. When the foot-section 35d is in a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 5, said rollers 390 are in engagement with the longitudinal rails 372 of the support 328.

When the members of the bed are in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5, a person may rest on a perfectly iiat surface.

If a person wishes to rest on the bed in a re- Vclinecl position with the legs elevated, the following steps may be taken: For example, assuin ing the set screw 3M of the telescopic connecting link 34! is loose and the pivots M2 and Seil are engaged as shown in Fig. 5, at rst the headsection 330 is brought into the upright position 336', whereupon the set screw is tightened so as to fix the eiective length of the connecting link. Thereupon the head-section 33t may be swung about its pivot 832 in counter-clockwise direction. During the movement of the head-section from the position 335i shown in Fig. 5 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 the rollers 3st of the foot-section 354i roll along the longitudinal rails 3712!, the pivot 36d mounted on the lug Slt of the foot-section 35d sliding along the slot 36l of the controlling link 362 causes a slight upward swinging of said controlling link 35i about its pivot 365. When the members of the bed are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 the pivot 3M mounted on the lug Slt oi the foot-section 354 is in engagement with the left hand end of the slot 36|. Now, when the counter-clockwise swinging movement of the head-section 330 is continued and said headsection is brought into the position 330, for example, shown in dash-and-dot lines in Fig. 6, the controlling link 362 now in pivotal connection with the foot-section 354 controls the further movements of said foot-section which reaches the position 354". Of course, during abovedescribed movement, the stationary portion 314 of the seat-section, rigid with the support 320, remains in its position.

If a different relative position between the head-section and the seat-section is desired in the reclined position, the pivot 342 of the connecting link 340 may be engaged with another bore of the series of bores 352.

Furthermore, a modification in the relative position of the members of the bed may be obtained by swingingr the head-section at first into the position 330"I shown in Fig. 5 and setting the effective length of the connecting link 340 for a greater length, as may be seen in said Fig. 5. On the other hand, of course, the head-section 330 may be used in said position 330'" as a support for the back of a person who wishes to sit up in the bed without having the legs in an elevated position.

The aligned position of the sections 330, 334 and 354 of the bed-bottom may be readily reestablished by loosening the set screw 34| of the telescopic connecting link 340 or else by disengaging either one `of the pivots 342 or 344.

Although not shown inthe drawings, it is understood that every embodiment of a reclining article of furniture may be equipped with a locking device by means of which the movable members of the article may be held in any desired position.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, -but it is understood, that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those, herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit or Scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a seat pivotally connected with said support, a first extension rigid with said seat, a backrest swingably mounted on said support at a point spaced from said pivotal connection of said seat with the support, said first extension proj eating backwardly beyond the pivotal connection between said back-rest and said support, a second extension rigid with said back-rest and extending beyond the pivotal connection of the latter with the support, and a connecting link pivoted at one of its end portions to said first extension at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said seat and the support and at its other end portion to said second extension at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said back-rest and the support.

2. In an article of repose for supporting the 6 body of a person as claimed in claim 1, said first extension being oiset to the plane of the seat, and said second extension being offset to the plane of the back-rest.

3. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support including longitudinal rails, a back-supporting member pivoted to said support, a seat-section including a stationary seat-portion and a rockable seatportion, said stationary seat-portion being rigid with said support, said rockable seat-portion being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the backsupporting member and the support, a leg-supporting member, said leg-supporting member being connected with said rockable seat-portion, a rst extension rigid with said rockable seatportion, a second extension rigid with said backsupporting member, said rst extension projecting backwardly beyond the pivotal connection between said back-supporting member and said support, said second extension projecting downwardly beyond the pivotal connection between said back-supporting member and said support when said back-supporting member is in upright position, a connecting link, one end portion of said connecting link being in pivotal connection with said iirst extension, the other end portion of said connecting link being in pivotal connection with said second extension at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said backsupporting member and the support, and means associated with said connecting link for releasing the connection between said extensions whereby said back-supporting member, said seat-section and said leg-supporting member may be brought into alignment with each other so as to form a bed-bottom resting on said longitudinal rails.

4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 3, the free end of the leg-supporting member being shiftably engaged with said rails when the bed-bottom is formed, and a controlling link pivoted at one of its end portions to said support, the other end portion of said controlling link being in pivotal and slidable connection with said leg-supporting member.

ANTON LORENZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 276,515 White Apr. 24, 1883 911,319 Montague Feb. 2, 1909 960,486 Berg et al June 7, 1910 1,397,773 Muir Nov. 22, 1921 1,703,237 Holtkamp Feb. 26, 1929 1,890,177 Derry Dec. 6, 1932 2,468,765 Lorenz May 3, 1949 2,472,854 Lorenz June 14, 1949 2,474,265 Lorenz June 28, 1949 2,478,769 Lorenz Aug. 9, 1949 2,517,466 Cox Aug. 1, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date '7,858 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1909 555,024 Germany Nov. 9, 1932 

